CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION Report Writing  Purpose is to capture the essence of what occurred so that others (DA, judge, jury, appellate courts, Supreme Court) can assess blame or culpability.  Elements of the crime must be present. Basics of Reports: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION Report Writing  Basic Reports: Crime reports, arrest reports, incident reports.  Face sheet: logistical facts such as date, time, location, witness, victim, suspect information.  Narrative page: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW Narrative must be comprehensive, providing adequate detail which substantiates the charges.

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS:  Reports that supplement another officer’s original, preliminary investigative report. Often used in major crime scenes such as homicides. SKETCHES Sketches demonstrate relationships concerning space and the distance of relative objects, including a fixed object that is unlikely to be moved in the near future.

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION PHOTOGRAPHS  Document the scene of an investigation.  Proper general procedure is to move from general to specific.  Tell a story with the photographs. Example: progressing through a house, room to room to exactly where the actual crime occurred.

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION PHOTOGRAPHS  General to specific:

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION PHOTOGRAPHS  General to specific:

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION PHOTOGRAPHS  General to specific:

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION FALSIFICATION OF REPORTS  P.C False Report by Peace Officer M/F  P.C. 118a-False Affidavit M/F  P.C. 134-Falsifying Documents to Be Used in Evidence F  P.C. 135-Destroying or Concealing Documentary Evidence M  P.C. 141a/b-Tampering with Physical Evidence a-M, b-F

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECETIVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT F A C C C T  Factual  Accurate  Clear  Concise  Complete  Timely

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WRITING MECHANICS  Proper nouns: Los Angeles City Hall, James Thomas.  First person pronouns: I, we.  Third person pronouns: He, she, they, it.  Differentiate between commonly used words that sound alike but have different meanings: Their property was placed there. You’re giving us your account of events. Avoid text language: ur, ok,

CHAPTER 7: DOCUMENTATION INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WRITING MECHANICS  Reports are written in the past tense.  Use abbreviations in notes; use complete words in reports.

SKETCH EXERCISE:  Needed materials: pencil(s), stencils, sketch pad or graph paper.  We will be sketching a fictional murder scene that occurred in a house.

SKETCH EXERCISE Rough Sketch: Sketch created with pencil and paper which is done at the crime scene. All crime scene sketches are from a bird’s eye perspective No artistic ability is needed. Items which should be included in the rough sketch:  North Arrow Indicator.  Four walls of the structure, windows and doors.  Measurements within the structure.  All relevant objects and evidence in structure, including furniture, walls.

SKETCH EXERCISE  Include a legend which must contain:  A file/report/DR number (make one up)  Date  Address  Names of victim(s) and/or suspect(s), if known.  Name of person who created sketch.  Include a “Not to Scale”

SKETCH EXERCISE Finished Sketch  Cleaned-up sketch based on the rough sketch incorporating all the elements used in the rough sketch.

SKETCH EXERCISE

SKETCH EXERCISE-Rough Sketch

SKETCH EXERCISE-Finished Sketch

SKETCH EXERCISE-Rough Sketch

SKETCH EXERCISE-Finished Sketch

SKETCH EXERCISE After completing the rough and finished sketches, write a 1 page report using MS Word in 12 point font answering the following questions:  What type of scene you are detailing.  What is the value of a crime scene sketch?  What is included in a crime scene sketch?  Why are you asked to use fixed points in the drawing?  Attach the sketches with the report and submit.  Sketch Exercise will be conducted on  EXERCISE DUE ***NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED***